Death Anxiety, Spiritual Care Perceptions, and Attitudes Toward Caring for the Dying Among Palliative Care Nurses

Death is universal, and nurses are at the forefront of providing holistic care to dying patients. Understanding the factors that influence nurses' attitudes toward caring for the dying is essential, as these attitudes directly affect the quality of end-of-life care. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between death anxiety, spiritual care perceptions, and attitudes toward caring for the dying among palliative care nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the palliative care clinics of 5 public hospitals in Turkey between May and November 2023. Data were collected using a participant information form, the Thorson-Powell Death Anxiety Scale, the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale, and the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale. Participants demonstrated moderate levels of death anxiety, high levels of spiritual care perceptions, and positive attitudes toward caring for the dying. Spiritual care perceptions (β = 0.525), educational level (β = 0.245), end-of-life care training (β = 0.216), and experiences of patient death (β = -0.231) were significant predictors of attitudes toward caring for the dying (R² = 0.609, P < .001). This study highlights the critical role of spiritual care perceptions, both independently and in combination with educational level and end-of-life care training, in fostering positive attitudes toward caring for the dying.